January 14, 2026 - Brussels must apply “maximum pressure” on China and India to cease buying Russian energy, the EU’s sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan said on Tuesday, adding that low oil prices are exacerbating Moscow’s economic woes and difficulties financing its war on Ukraine.

“This is our opportunity to put maximum pressure on other countries to move away from Russian oil and to further hit the Kremlin’s revenue,” O’Sullivan said at an event in Brussels organized by the European Policy Centre.

He added that the EU will continue to target the “enablers” of Russian oil sales, including third-country ports and refineries, at a time when global markets are “flooded” with crude and the “key indicators” of Moscow’s war economy are “flashing red”.

As a successful example of the bloc having “discouraged” third countries from purchasing Russian energy, O’Sullivan pointed to the EU’s previous decision to sanction Nayara Energy, a Russia-owned Indian refinery.

He also suggested that current political instability in Venezuela and Iran, both oil-rich countries, could “impact the oil market” in ways unfavorable to Russia, one of the world’s top energy producers.

“I think we have to go with this movement, which is to drive down prices,” O’Sullivan said. “We know there’s probably even a glut of oil on the market. This is the moment to push even harder.”

His comments come as soaring inflation, high interest rates, and severe labor shortages have aggravated the Kremlin’s economic difficulties at a time when oil prices are near their lowest levels since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, is currently selling at around $63 per barrel: just over half of the peak reached following Russia’s invasion. Urals crude, Russia’s main export blend, is now selling for $53 per barrel, around a third lower than the 2022 average.

Brussels has targeted refineries and other firms in India and China in previous sanctions packages, after New Delhi and Beijing both massively increased purchases of Russian oil since the start of the war.

By contrast, Russian gas now accounts for just 13% of the bloc’s overall imports, down from 45% prior to the full-scale invasion, according to the European Commission. Imports of Russian oil have fallen from 27% to just 2%.

O’Sullivan’s remarks also come as the EU seeks to ramp up pressure on Russia to end the war on terms that aren’t tantamount to Ukraine’s capitulation.

Speaking to journalists after Tuesday’s event, O’Sullivan confirmed Euractiv’s previous reporting that the EU is planning to complete its next sanctions package on Moscow – its 20th so far – by 24 February, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

He also noted that an EU ban on servicing Russian oil tankers – floated earlier this week by Finland and Sweden – is currently “under discussion”, but refused to confirm that this would be included in the next package.